RE:PUBLIC PRESS

Azerbaijan Violated Human Rights Convention Over Beheading and Mutilation of Armenian Soldier: ECHR

Driving the news:

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Azerbaijan violated the right to life and the prohibition of torture in the case of an Armenian serviceman Hayk Toroyan, who was killed during the April 2016 Azerbaijani agression against Artsakh.

The court found violations of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to life, and Article 3, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.

According to the judgment, Toroyan had been wounded and was no longer able to participate in hostilities when he was killed. The court concluded that his treatment violated international humanitarian law, including protections for individuals who are hors de combat.

What they’re saying:

The court found that Toroyan was subjected to torture and inhuman treatment. According to the judgment, his hands were severed while he was still alive, followed by his beheading.
The ECHR also found that Toroyan’s family members suffered severe emotional distress after learning about the circumstances of his death and because his remains were not returned intact.

The Azerbaijani authorities have rejected allegations of wrongdoing and have disputed the court’s conclusions regarding the events. Azerbaijani officials have previously criticized ECHR rulings as biased and questioned the authority of some court decisions following Azerbaijan’s dispute with the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly.

Why it matters:

The ruling is the first ECHR judgment related to the April 2016 Azerbaijani agression against Artsakh Republic.

The court’s decision is part of a broader group of cases concerning violations during the conflict. The ECHR is currently considering additional similar applications.

The big picture:

The ECHR awarded €60,000 jointly to H.T.’s parents, V.T. and L.V., and €30,000 to his sister, A.G., for non-pecuniary damage. The court also awarded €14,210 for legal and other expenses, bringing the total compensation to approximately €104,210.

Azerbaijan must pay the compensation within three months after the judgment becomes final. If the government does not comply, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe may begin supervision procedures.

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Armenia's Court Revokes Artsakh’s Ownership of Its Yerevan Representation Building

Driving the news:

Armenia’s Administrative Court has invalidated the Republic of Artsakh’s ownership registration for its representative office building in Yerevan, granting a lawsuit filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The Prosecutor General’s Office sought to annul the state registration recognizing the property as belonging to the Republic of Artsakh. The court ruled in favor of the government.

What they’re saying:

Attorney Roman Yeritsyan, who represented Artsakh’s interests in the case, called the ruling “a historic disgrace.”

According to Yeritsyan, Armenian authorities are now “legally erasing Artsakh’s presence” after, in his view, having surrendered it politically and militarily.

Why it matters:

The representative office served for decades as Artsakh’s official presence in Armenia. Following the mass forced deportation of the Armenian population from Artsakh in 2023, it remained one of the few surviving state institutions associated with the former republic.

The big picture:

he Prosecutor General’s Office filed the lawsuit in 2025, seeking to invalidate Artsakh’s ownership registration for the property. On May 26, 2026, Armenia’s Administrative Court ruled in favor of the government, revoking Artsakh’s ownership rights to the building. Attorney Roman Yeritsyan said the ruling would be appealed to the Administrative Court of Appeals. As of the latest publicly available information, no appellate ruling has been announced:

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Held in Azerbaijani Prison, Former Artsakh Speaker Calls Trial a Sham

Driving the news:

Former Artsakh National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, who is being held in a prison in Baku, has issued an audio message addressing the appeal proceedings in his case. The recording was published on the National Assembly of Artsakh’s Facebook page.

Ishkhanyan said the proceedings before Azerbaijan’s Court of Appeal are “formal in nature,” but added that he and his legal team appealed the lower court’s verdict because “that is the path leading to an international court.”

What they’re saying:

Ishkhanyan described the case against him as a politically motivated trial that, which "as nothing to do with criminal offenses and is instead based on ethnic identity and national hatred.

He said that the trial court committed gross violations of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Procedure Code, as well as human rights and international law.

According to Ishkhanyan, the verdict was issued without evidence and without concrete facts. He also argued that the charges against him were unsupported.

He further said that his defense lawyers have not received copies of the indictment, the prosecutorial conclusion, or the court’s verdict. According to Ishkhanyan, they have only been allowed to review electronic versions of those documents in court.

At the end of the recording, he said they would continue their legal fight and urged supporters to stay strong.

The big picture:

According to official figures cited in the statement, 19 Armenian prisoners are currently being held in prisons in Baku, including former political and military leaders of Artsakh who have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 15 to 20 years or life imprisonment.

@REPUBLICPRESS

Israel Moves to Recognize Armenian Genocide Amid Gaza War Tensions; Knesset Approval Still Required

Driving the news:

Israel’s Cabinet unanimously approved a proposal to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The decision, introduced by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, must still be approved by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

Why it matters:

The move comes amid sharply deteriorating relations between Israel and Turkey, particularly following disputes over the war in Gaza. Israel had previously avoided formal recognition of the Armenian Genocide, partly due to diplomatic sensitivities with Turkey.

What they’re saying

According to a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Sa’ar described recognition as a moral and historical responsibility, arguing that the Armenian Genocide remains subject to denial and historical revisionism.

Turkey criticized the decision, calling it “political” and accusing Israel of attempting to divert attention from allegations against it over its actions in Gaza.

“The Israeli government, which has systematically persecuted the Palestinian people before the eyes of the entire world and is being tried at the International Court of Justice on charges of committing genocide against the people of Gaza, is seeking to cover up its own crimes through the political decision it has adopted regarding the events of 1915,” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The big picture:

The recognition would mark a significant shift in Israel’s longstanding position on the Armenian Genocide. The decision will now require approval by the Knesset before becoming final.

@REPUBLICPRESS

Armenia’s Central Election Commission Completes Vote Count

Driving the news:

The Central Election Commission of Armenia has completed the counting of votes from the country’s parliamentary election.

A total of 2,503,976 citizens were eligible to vote. According to the commission, 1.458.677 voters participated, resulting in a turnout of 58.97%.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party received 727.160 votes, or 49,85%% of the total vote, securing 61 seats in the 105-member National Assembly.

The Strong Armenia Alliance, led by Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, who is currently under house arrest, received 340,062 votes, or 23.31%, winning 28 seats.

The Armenia Alliance, led by former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, received 145,097 votes, or 9.95%, securing 11 seats.

The Prosperous Armenia Party received 58,368 votes, or 4%, securing 5 seats.

Why it matters:

A parliamentary majority requires 53 seats. With 61 seats, Civil Contract holds a governing majority and does not need to form a coalition government.

The big picture:

Although Civil Contract secured a majority, its 61 seats fall short of the 70-seat threshold required for a constitutional majority.

As a result, the ruling party would be unable to pass constitutional amendments on its own. Constitutional changes required by Azerbaijan would require support from opposition lawmakers, as the government lacks the votes necessary to amend the constitution without cross-party backing.

@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 1596 polling stations out of total 2005 show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [49.56]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [23.50]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [3.79]%
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [10.08]%

The figures remain preliminary.

The results are based on 1.101.355 ballots counted out of 1,476,597 votes cast as of 8:00 p.m

@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 1159 polling stations out of total 2005 show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [50.88]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [23.23]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [4.16]%
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [9.60]%

The figures remain preliminary.

The results are based on 701.848 ballots counted out of 1,476,597 votes cast as of 8:00 p.m

@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 1029 polling stations out of total 2005 show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [51.71]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [23.20]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [4.29]%
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [9.33]%
• [Wings of Unity/Tatoyan] — [2.29]%

The figures remain preliminary.

The results are based on 587.194 ballots counted out of 1,476,597 votes cast as of 8:00 p.m

@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 787 polling stations out of total 2005 show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [51.20]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [23.41]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [3.86]%
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [9.73]%
• [Wings of Unity/Tatoyan] — [2.30]%

The figures remain preliminary.

The results are based on 404.818 ballots counted out of 1,476,597 votes cast as of 8:00 p.m

@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 612 polling stations out of total 2005 show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [51.06]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [23.13]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [4.10]%
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [9.80]%
• [Wings of Unity/Tatoyan] — [2.19]%

The figures remain preliminary.

The results are based on 306.421 ballots counted out of 1,476,597 votes cast as of 8:00 p.m

@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 512 polling stations out of total 2005 show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [51.38]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [23.31]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [5.32]%
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [9.57]%
• [Wings of Unity/Tatoyan] — [2.29]%

The figures remain preliminary.

@REPUBLICPRESS

Pashinyan Declares Civil Contract Victory in Elections

Driving the news:

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the ruling Civil Contract party (CC) has won the elections and will form the government on its own.

“Civil Contract will independently form the government. I thank all citizens of Armenia who participated in the elections and exercised their free will through voting,” Pashinyan said at the start of a press conference shortly after polls closed.

He emphasized that Civil Contract received more votes and greater public trust than it did in the 2021 elections.

“This is a responsibility. It means that the citizens of Armenia have stood by the state, stood by independence, stood by the future, and stood by peace,” Pashinyan said.

@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 413 polling stations out of total 2006 show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [54.69]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [22.12]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [5.32]%
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [8.59]%

The figures remain preliminary.

@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 314 polling stations show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [54.87]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [22.08]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [5.25]%
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [8.37]%

The figures remain preliminary.

Results are based on ballots counted from 314 polling stations out of a total of 2,006.

@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 216 polling stations show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [55.22]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [22.02]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [5.75]%
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [8.36]%

The figures remain preliminary.

Results are based on ballots counted from 216 polling stations out of a total of 2,006.

@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 153 polling stations show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [56.65]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [22.08]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [4.57%]
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [8.07]%

The figures remain preliminary.

Results are based on ballots counted from 153 polling stations out of a total of 2,006.


@REPUBLICPRESS

Preliminary results from 129 polling stations show:

• [Civil Contract/Pashinyan] — [52.5]%
• [Strong Armenia/Karapetyan] — [25.4]%
• [Prosperous Armenia/Tsarukyan] — [4.6]%
• [Armenia Alliance/Kocharyan] — [11.6]%

The figures remain preliminary.

Results are based on ballots counted from 129 polling stations out of a total of 2,006.
Source Infocom.

@REPUBLICPRESS

Four Armenian POWs Returned by Azerbaijan; Two Syrian Mercenaries Transferred to Syria

Driving the news:
Azerbaijan has transferred four Armenian prisoners to Armenia via the Hakari (Khakari) Bridge, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced. All four are now on Armenian territory and undergoing initial medical checks.

At the same time, Armenia’s Ministry of Justice said it handed over two Syrian nationals to Syrian authorities via Turkey. The men had been serving life sentences in Armenia for crimes related to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.

What they’re saying:
Pashinyan confirmed that Gevorg Sujyan, Davit Davtyan and Viken Euljekjian showed no health issues in primary evaluation, and Vagif Khachatryan’s condition is preliminarily assessed as satisfactory.

The big picture:
Three of the returned Armenians were detained in the aftermath of the 44-day 2020 war; the fourth, Vagif Khachatryan, was abducted in 2023. They had been convicted by Azerbaijani sham courts on charges including “espionage and other offenses”.

Armenia’s justice ministry said it transferred two Syrian mercenaries, Yousef Alaabet al-Hajji and Muhhrab Muhammad al-Shkhari, back to Syrian jurisdiction after they had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021 on terrorism-related charges.

Dozens more Armenian prisoners remain in Azerbaijani custody.

@REPUBLICPRESS